Commission going after Prince Street construction funds

May 3, 2007

By Jean Verlich: CNJ News Editor

Prince Street reconstruction and the Clovis Industrial Park were at the top of the Clovis City Commission’s agenda Thursday.

Commissioners agreed to apply for $1.755 million to the Local Government Transportation Fund (GRIP2) to reconstruct Prince Street between 21st Street and Llano Estacado Boulevard. The grant requires $945,000 in matching funds for a total project cost of $2.7 million.

With the May 15 deadline approaching, City Manager Joe Thomas advised commissioners to move forward with the application and start design immediately if funds are received.

“The funding is going to be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis,” Thomas said.

They OK’d the redesign of the park’s master plan to accommodate plots with larger acreage for industrial development. Gentry said the former design had two-acre plots while the new plan will provide plots of five to 20 acres.

He said it will be “more of an industrial” layout, while the previous plan was “more of a business park design.”

The redesign will accommodate additional rail service into the park.

The plan will be presented for approval to the Curry County Commission because the park lies in county jurisdiction.

A portion of $14,763 received in an industrial revenue bond fee from ARES Corp. will be used for installation of a main water line at Clovis Industrial Park. ARES Blue Sun Development, a joint venture of ARES Corp. and Blue Sun Biodiesel, broke ground a few weeks ago for a $16 million biodiesel plant in the industrial park.

Commissioners voted to retain $5,865 of the bond fees.

In other business, commissioners held a public hearing on a beer and wine license for Taqueria Jalisco, 217 W. Seventh St.

They approved the license and a waiver on the 300-foot restriction for proximity to the nearest church.